Hyundai Tucson Airbag Recall Over Potential Child Injury
A 2010 Hyundai Tucson recall involves potentially defective airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If a passenger in the front right passenger seat weighs more than approximately 240 pounds, this can cause the “passive occupant detection system” (PODS) to light up the air bag warning light. While that light is illuminated, the front passenger seat airbag will deploy in the event of a crash, and will not deactivate if a child is seated in the front passenger seat. This could cause an airbag injury to the child.
According to the NHTSA:
“Airbags could seriously injure or even kill an unbuckled child or adult who is sitting too close to the air bag or who is thrown toward the dash during emergency braking. In a crash, the air bag inflates very quickly. It could hit anything close to the dashboard with enough force to cause severe injuries or even death. Because the back of a rear-facing child seat sits very close to the dashboard, the seat could be struck with enough force to cause serious, or even fatal injuries to a baby. Even older children (who have outgrown child seats) are at risk from a deploying air bag, if they are not properly restrained.”
Hyundai will notify owners by phone and/or mail. Hyundai dealers will reprogram the PODS system for free.
Tags: Child Car Accident Injury, Defective Airbag, Hyundai Lawsuit
